I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 454: [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [40] Amael VS Rodolf



"J-Jennyfer?!"

Jennyfer narrowed her eyes, lips curling slightly in a look of annoyance.

"It's Senior to you," she corrected sharply.

Victor swallowed, nodding hastily as a flush crept over his cheeks. "A-Ah, yes... Senior..."

A grimace crossed Celeste's face as she watched the exchange from a distance, her brows drawing together.

'Is he still crushing on her... even with Selene?'

She knew all too well the spark that had ignited in Victor's eyes the first time he'd seen Jennyfer—a stunning senior who had captured his attention since he'd first set foot in the academy as a freshman. Victor's admiration, perhaps even infatuation, had only grown when Jennyfer had once helped him in his bad time during his first year.

At that time, Elizabeth and Alvara were the strongest and were ruling over all First Years with no one to defy them.

Victor had been caught up in their fight and Jennyfer had helped him at that time.

Celeste sighed inwardly. 'I can't believe I was ever a little jealous of that...'

There had been moments last year, and even at the start of her second year, when an inexplicable annoyance would creep up in her whenever Victor spoke about Jennyfer. She'd never been able to pinpoint exactly why. Yet now, that feeling was as if it had vanished entirely, as if swept away by a fresh wind.

The timing had coincided almost exactly with the arrival of Amael in Sancta Vedelia. Whatever had once stirred in her chest whenever Victor looked at Jennyfer seemed to have withered.

"W-What are you doing here?" Victor asked, dumbfounded.

"I'm one of your targets, Junior. You're here for points, aren't you? Then come and earn them!"

Without warning, Jennyfer drew her sword, lightning crackling along its gleaming blade. With a swift, fluid movement, she unleashed a powerful arc of lightning that tore through the air with a thunderous roar.

-BOOM!

Victor's eyes widened as he barely managed to leap out of the way, the bolt of energy crashing into the spot where he'd just stood, sending a spray of dirt and debris into the air.

"W-Wait, Senior! I'm not here for that!" Victor shouted as he stumbled backward, still evading her attacks. "Behemoth has invaded the forest!"

He finally managed to let out the words and it seemed to have worked as Jennyfer's sword lowered, and her intense gaze softened-if only slightly. Victor let out a breath of relief, his heart pounding in his chest as he took in her relaxed stance.

But his relief was short-lived. Jennyfer's eyes narrowed once more, and a sardonic smirk spread across her face. "Do you and your classmates truly have no better way to catch me off guard?"

"What...?" Victor's mind scrambled, her words catching him off balance.

Jennyfer's expression shifted to one of exasperation. "Before you, several of your peers tried the same excuse-claiming Behemoth had attacked-just before they attempted to ambush me like cowards. Not that I blame them for trying..." She added, a hint of amusement in her tone, "but it didn't end well for them."

"It won't work twice but nice try, Junior." Jennyfer smiled.

Meanwhile, Victor and Celeste were equally speechless.

'Who are the bastards who got this dumb idea?!'

Now how can they make her believe them?!

"Wait, I am not joking there-"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

-Booom!

***

"Where is Alvara?" Rodolf asked.

I shrugged, giving him a dismissive look as I stood up, grabbing a bottle of water. "Alvara? Who knows? And why are you asking me, of all people?" I downed the bottle, letting the cool liquid soothe my throat before splashing some across my face, savoring the feeling.

Rodolf's gaze didn't waver. "I know she was here with you. Her scent is practically clinging to you."

I raised an eyebrow, tossing the empty bottle aside. "What a crazy nose you have, Rodolf," I replied, letting out a short laugh.

Rodolf, however, wasn't playing along. He straightened, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. "Where is she?" he asked again, his voice now layered with a barely concealed threat.

I met his stare, smirking. "And why exactly are you looking for her? Don't tell me you've got some feelings for Alvara?" I couldn't help but laugh, leaning into the mockery, knowing full well what his intentions likely were.

Rodolf's lips twisted into a smirk of his own before he let out a low, humorless laugh. "Feelings? Don't kid yourself. I just have a score to settle. After what she did to Cylien... well, this exam provides the perfect opportunity."

He had been biding his time, waiting for just the right moment to strike back and he was right this exam was perfect for that.

"How about this? You tell me everything you know about my brother's death, and I'll tell you where Alvara is," I offered him a deal.

Rodolf's expression darkened, and he shook his head. "Nice try. But I have a better idea," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "I'll beat the truth out of you instead."

I smirked, folding my arms across my chest. "Too bad for you, because I'm not telling you a damn thing to a fucker like you."

Rodolf's smirk returned, his expression hardening. "It's almost touching, you know. Seeing a Half so loyal to someone like Alvara. But it doesn't change anything." He stepped closer. "I'm

going to crush you."

"Oh, that's some serious confidence," I replied, my own smirk growing, matching his own. "But I suppose that's typical of you."

"I've been waiting to take you down ever since you beat Allen. For some reason, there's just something about that face of yours... makes me want to knock you out." Prana started leaking from his body, swirling around him in faint, crackling waves of energy.

"As much as I appreciate the passionate feelings you have for me, I don't have the time to entertain you right now," I replied calmly.

Behemoth was on the rampage nearby, and time was slipping through my fingers. Alvara's situation should have been handled now-I'd told her everything she needed to know, giving her the final push to keep her from heading down the wrong path. With Bryelle also in her care, I trusted she would make sure nothing would happen to her.

The only thing I should be focusing on now is Celeste's safety. As the next Prophetess, she's a prime target for them, and every second counts. I need to get to her. John and Victor are in the forest as well which relieved me a bit for now but I can't trust on that for long.

"Tell me where Alvara is."

I sighed, irritation flaring. He wasn't going to give this up. Summoning Vysindra's fire, I felt it surge up my right arm, flames licking over my skin.

"What are those fluffy ears of yours for? Decoration?" I sneered.

-BAM!

Before I could blink, Rodolf's fist was already heading my way. I managed to raise my palm just in time to intercept it, but the impact sent shockwaves up my arm, numbing it instantly. The force sent me skidding back, my body slamming into a tree, the bark splintering on impact. Damn, he was strong. Stronger than I'd anticipated.

Rodolf stood there, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You should've told me where she was when I was still feeling generous."

I watched as his form began to shift, his body stretching, muscles bulging, fur bristling along his arms and face. His eyes narrowed, the slits in them sharpening. His hair rose, each strand

charged with power.

"Moonfang Bestial Form," he whispered. His body glowed with an intense aura of Prana I had

never felt before.

So this was the Moonfang Prince himself, worthy of a [Pretender] of the [Second Game].

"I'm not making the same mistake as that idiot Adrian. I'm taking you down. Now." And then he was gone, vanishing in a blur of speed so fast that my eyes could barely keep up. The next thing I felt was a crushing blow to my back, sending me hurtling into the air, my vision blurring from the pain. I twisted midair, managing to land on my feet and slide across the ground, steadying myself.

"Raven Arts," I murmured under my breath, activating the technique. My vision sharpened, senses heightening until every sound, every movement around me became razor-clear. But the price was steep; I could feel the energy draining me, my skin paling as I forced my body to

push past its limits.

Rodolf was still incredibly fast, moving in blurs of motion, but with Raven Arts engaged, I could finally react, my body straining but responsive. As a Half-Human, I didn't have the natural advantages others did. Vampires had speed, werewolves boasted monstrous strength, and elves possessed an effortless mastery over mana. But for me, it was different. I had to fight harder, adapt faster, and work twice as hard to stand on even footing. "Anathema's Fire," I whispered, lifting my right hand. The flames that curled around my arm like rings weren't ordinary. Cleenah had warned me about using the Anathemas Fire like this could damage my mental state, that it would twist my thoughts and strain my mind. But right now, I didn't have a choice. I felt the heat intensify as a burning purple ring coiled tightly around my arm, then another, and another. Three rings, each emitting a searing heat.

Rodolf's gaze narrowed, clearly realizing this wasn't something to take lightly. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, his clawed hand lunging toward me with. I met him

head-on, my burning fist crashing into his clawed one.

-BOOOM!

The three flaming rings around my arm exploded outward, unleashing a violent shockwave

that sent us both flying back, tearing through the forest. I skidded across the ground, crashing through the underbrush.

"Damn... it's gotten stronger," I muttered, steadying myself as I rose to my feet. Rodolf had been thrown back as well, crashing into a tree that shattered under his weight. He stood up,

eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me.

Without hesitation, I called out, "Perseus." The amber glow of the blade flared to life in my hand. I wrapped the Anathema's Fire around it, the three rings leaving my arm to coil around the blade like serpents, turning its glow into a fierce, fiery purple. Gripping the sword with both hands, I raised it as I locked eyes with Rodolf. He seemed to

recognize the threat as his mouth opened, the air around him crackling as he condensed a

thick, red sphere of Prana within his jaws.

With all my gathered strength, I swung Perseus down, releasing the full power of the Anathema's Fire just as Rodolf unleashed his scorching breath attack.

-BOOOOOM!

The clash of our attacks triggered an eruption that shattered the landscape around us,

flattening trees in a fifty-meter radius and sending a cloud of dust and debris into the sky. I was thrown back with staggering force, my body hurtling through the air until I crashed nearly a thousand meters away. The impact left me breathless, bruised, but somehow still on

my feet. Rodolf was somewhere in the aftermath of that blast, likely recovering quickly. But I didn't have time to stick around and find out.

I spun around, my thoughts focused only on one thing: Celeste.

I took off, running through the wreckage-strewn forest.

Find Alvara on your own if you want.